Cardiovascular Health & Diabetes
Cardiovasular Health & Diabetes
The ITCM’s past REACH US project was a national, multilevel program that served as the cornerstone of the CDC’s efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health. The ITCM’s REACH US program worked with three Tribes over five years in order for each diverse community to design, implement, and evaluate community-driven strategies to eliminate health disparities related to cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus.
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For more information about the ITCM REACH project, please contact REACH Program Manager, Cathy Edgerly at (906) 632-6896 ext. 111 or cedgerly@www.itcmi.org
ITCM Tribal 4 X 4 Program
Goal: The ITCM 4 X 4 Program is funded through the Michigan Department of Community Health in order to create a Tribal Coalition which works to encourage 4 healthy behaviors: (1) Take part in a healthy diet, (2) Engage in regular exercise, (3) Avoid all commercial tobacco use, and (4) Take part in an annual clinical exam which includes these 4 clinical measures: Body Mass Index, Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol. All 12 Federally Recognized Tribes along with the American Indian Health and Family Services Agency participate.
Objectives: Each Tribe selects from a menu of objectives which include: 1) Promote the MI Healthier Tomorrow 4 x 4 media message and Take the Pledge to Lose 10%; 2) Adopt system guidelines/to screen all adults for Body Mass Index, Glucose, Cholesterol, and Blood Pressure; 3) Improve Healthy Work Environments; and 4) Increase healthier food choices and encouraging physical activity in tribal venues.
The project will create increased opportunities for improved nutrition and physical activity, resulting in reduced obesity rates and associated chronic disease.